 This past semester Good Samaritan Ministries benefitted from the work of a Carroll College integrative learning course called “Documentary Photography and Catholic Social Teaching” taught by Chris Fuller & Jeff Van Tine. The purpose of the class was two-fold: To learn fundamental camera skills and how to apply them to the field of documentary photograph, and to learn about Catholic Social Teaching and its core themes. In order to synthesize these two fields together the students were assigned to Helena-area service agencies and put their camera skills to work! Each student prepared a portfolio of photographs “employing the techniques of documentary photography to illustrate the story of their assigned agency as an expression of at least one core theme of Catholic Social Teaching.” (Chris Fuller, course description) Good Samaritan Ministries worked with Carroll student Bridget Bloesch. Bridget learned all about the different programs we have to help the Helena community including the operation of our thrift store. She would come in a few times a week to capture photographs of the different aspects of our Mission. Upon completion of the project, Bridget’s portfolio of high quality edited photos were then presented to our agency for our use. She took some great ones and we cannot wait to show you! Here are just a few examples.   Bridget had this to say about her work here at Good Sam:
I learned that GSM is so much more than a thrift store. I never realized how many amazing people are behind the scenes working hard to make GSM the organization that it is. Everyone has their own back-story and it does not matter what yours is, everyone is still welcoming and willing to help you out. I see hands on social teaching in a different way because it is not necessarily the work that you are doing, but the connections and the one on one time with the people you are working with that matter most. Connecting with others and having honest conversations is what I have taken away from it. Everyone is fighting their own battle but when you can put your own problems aside and listen to others, that is what makes it special and meaningful. Be on the lookout in our other promotional materials for more of Bridget’s photos. Bridget is already a budding talented photographer, you can check out more of her independent work here. We are so grateful to Carroll College for their bright talented students, so eager to give their talents in service to the Helena community. Good Samaritan in exchange hopes we can impart on the students our Mission of Social Justice for the most vulnerable community members. Together we accomplish so much!  Often in the lives of those living paycheck to paycheck, money is tight, so paying for living expenses is a balancing act. One catastrophe or change in luck can tip the balance. Take 'Jim', a senior citizen who cleans hotels part time to cover the living expenses his Social Security check cannot. Jim's luck turned for the worse when he broke his leg. His accident meant missing weeks of work, which meant missing crucial paychecks necessary to pay rent, prescriptions and other needs. Instead of having to choose between homelessness and getting his medication, Jim found Good Samaritan Ministries. Good Samaritan was able to pay Jim's Eviction Notice meaning he could stay in his home and still afford his vital prescriptions while he got better from his accident. How quickly tragedy can strike, but that is why Good Samaritan Ministries exists. Stories like Jim's are not unusual, we see them happen everyday and we are thankful for the support of the community so we can help Jim and all in need like him. Thank you Helena! |
GSM Mission MomentsSuccess stories from our Mission. You can be a hero by supporting Good Samaritan and those in need in Helena . Archives
September 2018
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